2 Channel DR questions!

[Monsta-Tone]

OK, I bought jxtdriggers' blown Chrome Faced Dual Recto head!

I haven't had a 2 channel Recto in about 8 years. I loved the 1st one I had, from 1995, but hated the 2nd one I had which was made in 1999. I sold the 1st one to a good friend and he wouldn't part with it when I ended up with Seller's Remorse.

The one I bought has a blown O.T.
It's gonna have to be replaced, so I'm going to have Mercury Magnetics clone the original in hopes of keeping it as close to original as possible since Mesa doesn't even list the transformer in their literature.


My questions are:
Would you get a replacement tranny from Mesa, even though you know it's not the same model #?

Have any of you had to replace the power supply Filter Caps yet? I did this on my DC-5 and it sounded 100% better!

What tubes are you guys using in yours? I hate Mesa tubes and usually add a Bias Pot, but am not sure that I want to mod this particular amp.

What cabs are you guys using? I don't care to haul a 4x12 around anymore, so I'm thinking about 2 2x12's. Maybe a 3/4 back and a Recto cab?

Would you re-cover the head cab if it were beat up?

Would you buy a replacement diamond plate from Mesa if you wanted Chrome Faced Chassis and Black diamond plating?

What are some settings for:
Great cleans
Brutal distortion
Great leads
Bluesy cleans


Here's my setup:
Carvin DC747 or PRS McCarty
Morley Bad Horsie II Wah
G-System input
G-System Insert Send into amp's Input (DC-5 or 2 Channel DR)
Amp's FX Send into G-System Insert Return
G-System's mono Output into Amp's FX Return


Also, my DC-5, which is in the 'Vintage Amps' section is a year newer than my Recto! :lol:

 

[Elpelotero]

I would call Mesa and see if they have any old transformers lying around from the early 90's. Sometimes they have spare parts just laying around, like Mark3 faceplates. I'm sure they have Mark4 stuff also.

 

[Monsta-Tone]

I hear what you're saying, but I can't help but wonder.
The Mercury upgrades that Paul cloned for my DC-5 are night and day difference! The amp has tons of headroom now and the tone is just so much better!

 

[suedehead]

My questions are:
1) Would you get a replacement tranny from Mesa, even though you know it's not the same model #?

2) Have any of you had to replace the power supply Filter Caps yet? I did this on my DC-5 and it sounded 100% better!

3) What tubes are you guys using in yours? I hate Mesa tubes and usually add a Bias Pot, but am not sure that I want to mod this particular amp.

4) What cabs are you guys using? I don't care to haul a 4x12 around anymore, so I'm thinking about 2 2x12's. Maybe a 3/4 back and a Recto cab?

5) Would you re-cover the head cab if it were beat up?

6) Would you buy a replacement diamond plate from Mesa if you wanted Chrome Faced Chassis and Black diamond plating?

1) i'd go with the mercury magnetics ...
2) take the amp to a tech and let him see whether it's needed to replace them;
3) take a look at TAD 6l6 WGC-STR ... my DR is currently loaded with mesa tubes, but both my soldano's have them ... sonic heaven.
4) take a look at bogner 2x12's
5) why re-cover?? if it bothers you, strip the tolex and varnish the wood with a dark pigment.
6) i'm pretty sure you are going to mess up the headshell if you are going to remove the diamond plate.

 

[Monsta-Tone]

I'm leaning heavily toward the Mercury Mags!

As for a tech, luckily I'm a Mesa tech, so I'll know in less than 10 minutes what the problem is.


I'm gonna have to re-stock my tube supply anyway, so maybe I'll get some TAD's. I've got a duet, but not a quartet.

 

[Silverwulf]

Wow, I'd have to type a novel to answer all of those questions... Oddly enough, I'm about half way finished with a "2 Channel Recto Guide" I'm making that will answer all of those questions in pretty good detail. I'll answer some this weekend when I get a few more minutes to type.

 

[Elpelotero]

Wow, I'd have to type a novel to answer all of those questions... Oddly enough, I'm about half way finished with a "2 Channel Recto Guide" I'm making that will answer all of those questions in pretty good detail. I'll answer some this weekend when I get a few more minutes to type.

sounds cool. What's the topic matter more specifically?

 

[Thrash Till Deth]

Would you buy a replacement diamond plate from Mesa if you wanted Chrome Faced Chassis and Black diamond plating?

I would get the diamond plate powder coated black. I did it to two dual rectifiers with great results and it only cost $25 to get both fronts powder coated. The only hassle is removing the diamond plate. On one of the duals the plate peeled right off and on the other I had to fight with it for about a half hour before it came off. Either way you would have to remove the original diamond plate to put on a replacement so it might be worth it to just get it powder coated.

 

[Monsta-Tone]

How is it held on? Hot Glue? Pixie Dust?

 

[Elpelotero]

a very strong factory adhesive. I think you need to blow dry it with hot air to loosen it up.

 

[Silverwulf]

sounds cool. What's the topic matter more specifically?

It's pretty much an all-inclusive guide starting at "What is a Mesa Rectifier?" all the way down to the nitty gritty. It's not pulling any info from your site, though their may be a few pieces of similar info from time to time. I'm still working on "Version 1.0" at the moment. It's currently around 20 pages. I'm hoping to have it finished with a few weeks. I probably will cite your website as an place to go for additional info with your permission.

 

[Monsta-Tone]

a very strong factory adhesive. I think you need to blow dry it with hot air to loosen it up.

That's what I figured! No worries, I've got a heat gun that I use to apply heat shrink. If that's too much, my wife has an 'Industrial Strength Hair Dryer and she can't live without it!' :lol: :lol: :lol:


I live in the sticks though. Not sure if anyone is going to offer powder coating services here. Might have to take it to Tucson!

 

[Elpelotero]

sounds cool. What's the topic matter more specifically?

It's pretty much an all-inclusive guide starting at "What is a Mesa Rectifier?" all the way down to the nitty gritty. It's not pulling any info from your site, though their may be a few pieces of similar info from time to time. I'm still working on "Version 1.0" at the moment. It's currently around 20 pages. I'm hoping to have it finished with a few weeks. I probably will cite your website as an place to go for additional info with your permission.

seems cool. I'm intrigued to see how you could fill 20 pages on this stuff! I'm guessing it has troubleshooting help or tube swapping or something? We'll see it when we see it. You have permission to quote whatever you want.

 

[Silverwulf]

seems cool. I'm intrigued to see how you could fill 20 pages on this stuff! I'm guessing it has troubleshooting help or tube swapping or something? We'll see it when we see it. You have permission to quote whatever you want.

Cool. It will include some basic stuff like that, but only if it's Recto specific. I don't want to include any general amp troubleshooting type stuff in it.